Boston Flora

Tag: Wild Flower

  • Sunday, September 27, 12:30 – 3 pm – Weetamoo Woods Walk

    This 650-acre preserve of maritime hardwoods and wooded swamp is at the heart of an on-going effort to protect a large un-fragmented forest region near the southern New England coast. The primary natural community is coastal oak-holly forest that surrounds a remnant Atlantic white cedar swamp. Autumn color and late season flora of woodlands and edges will be on display, as well as some interesting footprints from the past — cellar holes, bridges, and the remains of a 19th century sawmill.  Join the New England Wild Flower Society and Instructor Garry Plunkett for a very interesting hike through Weetamoo Woods in Tiverton, Rhode Island on Sunday, September 27, beginning at 12:30 pm.  Limit 15 participants, $20 for members of NEWFS, $25 non members.  To register, and for directions, log on to http://www.newfs.org, or call 508-877-7630.

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  • Sunday, September 13, 10 am – 3 pm – Mastering Asters – Nasami Farm Workshop

    Asters can be among the more difficult species of native plants to identify in the field, for both amateurs and professionals. However, they are an important family of plants to know, for they comprise a substantial proportion of the late summer and fall-blooming herbaceous flora of our region. They’re also beautiful and have an exquisite structure which makes them exciting to study.

    This workshop will focus on identifying 15-20 of the most common species – the ones most likely to be found in the wild most of the time. A field trip to a natural area close to the classroom will follow a two-hour lab.

    Please note that this subject is somewhat technical. An identification key and other handouts will be provided. Bring hand lens, bag lunch, and wear hiking boots for damp conditions.

    Location:
    Nasami Farm
    128 North Street
    Whately , MA 01373

    Sponsor: New England Wild Flower Society
    Time(s): 10 a.m – 3 p.m.
    Cost: $55 (NEWFS Member) / $65 (Nonmember)
    Phone: 508-877-7630, ext. 3303
    Fax: 508-877-3658
    Email: registrar@newenglandwild.org

    http://www.botany.wisc.edu/art/images/outreach/thumbs%20posters/asters.jpg

  • Saturday, September 26, 10 am – 2 pm – Sustainable Gardens at the Perkins School

    On Saturday, September 26, from 10 – 2, join Sonia Baerhuk, lead grounds-person, for a tour of the extensive campus at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, the country’s first school for the visually impaired, founded in 1832. The school’s sustainable garden highlights range from the leaf and fallen tree composting systems to a tropical “Cathedral” greenhouse that operates without the use of chemicals. See the two recently installed rain gardens funded by a grant from the Watertown Community Foundation, as well as orchards that grow with biological controls and visit several native plant gardens.  The smells, textures and sounds in the various gardens enrich the lives of students, staff and visitors. Bring a bag lunch. Sponsored by the New England Wild Flower Society, $35 for NEWFS members, $42 for nonmembers, limited to 20 participants.  For more information, directions, and to register, log on to www.newfs.org, or call 508-877-7630.

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  • Saturday, September 26, 11 am – 3 pm – Ferns of the Blue Hills

    The Blue Hills Reservation is the largest preserved natural area in eastern Massachusetts. It has quite a few spots that are rich in ferns. Join the New England Wild Flower Society and instructors Don Lubin and Raymond Abair on Saturday, September 26 at 11 am. They plan to  travel a new route and see more than a dozen fern species, including dramatic large displays of Virginia chain fern, ostrich fern (below), and Christmas ferns. Wear long pants for poison ivy and bring a lunch and hand lens.  Participants limited to 15, fee $32 for members of NEWFS, $36 for nonmembers.  To register, call 508-877-7630, or log on to www.newfs.org.

    http://www.fernridgefarms.com/images/OstrichFern.jpg

  • Wednesday, September 30, 10 am – 1 pm – Two Collectors’ Gardens

    Visit two of the area’s finest fall gardens in their autumn glory.  The Dover garden sits on an acre of land, not far from the Charles River, with rich alluvial soil and plenty of moisture and light.  With these ingredients, Carrie Waterman has created an outstanding naturalistic garden, which has evolved to accommodate the owner’s passions for plant propagation, native plants and color. Plants with long bloom times and handsome foliage fill the mixed borders which peak in fall splendor. In nearby Needham, discover a fall garden that glows in the autumn light, highlighting a collection of brilliant maples, golden birches and deciduous confers, beech, bamboos and grasses of every type.  Using variation in foliage size, color, and texture, Ellen Lathi has achieved a bold and colorful effect for four-season interest. Natural stone, a bog filled with large-leafed plants, and a stream add to the fall scene. Both gardeners are fans of serendipity and love to see the native plants, with the help of the birds, spread themselves around and get comfortable!  Many Garden Club of the Back Bay members may remember seeing Ellen Lahti’s slide presentation at The Country Club last year, sponsored by The Boston Committee.  This tour is presented by The New England Wild Flower Society, and will cost $30 if a NEWFS member, $36 if a non member.  To register, log on to www.newfs.org, or call 508-877-7630.http://images.mooseyscountrygarden.com/mooseys-garden-tour/driveway-garden/autumn-garden-colors.jpg

  • Sunday, September 20, 10 am – 3 pm – Fall Composites on Mt. Toby

    The Mt. Toby State Reservation, located in Sunderland, Massachusetts, in the Connecticut River Valley, is a popular destination for hiking and a fascinating place to botanize.  The diverse and unusual geological formations underlying the Reservation contribute to the well-known diversity and richness of its flora.  In addition to being an outstanding place to find ferns, it is also an excellent location in which to study fall composites.  With Arieh Tal and the New England Wild Flower Society, you will explore open, disturbed areas next to the scenic Cranberry Pond for a large variety of asters, goldenrods and Eupatoriums, and then follow trails and roads through the beautiful forest understory, beneath a high canopy of majestic age-old trees.  The terrain will be relatively easy.  Bring lunch, hand lens, field guides and hiking boots.  The date is Sunday, September 20, beginning at 10 am, and is limited to 15 participants.  Fee $40 members of NEWFS, $45 non members.  Register and get directions at www.newfs.org, or call 508-877-7630.

    http://www.remarc.com/craig/images/asters_and_goldenrod.jpg

  • Tuesday, September 22, 6:30 – 8:30 pm – Introduction to Botany

    Learn botany from dedicated instructor and plant nomenclature specialist Kanchi Gandhi. Among the topics to be explored: plant cells and tissues, anatomy and morphology, reproduction, nutrition, growth and development, plant diversity, evolution, classification, and nomenclature. This course, offering both lecture and laboratory activities, introduces botany to new students or serves as a refresher course. Required text: Botany for Gardeners by Brian Capon. Contact the Arboretum’s bookstore (617.384.5209) for book availability. Sessions continue Tuesdays September 29, October 6, 13, 20, 27, November 3 and 10, all 6:30 – 8:30 at the Arnold Arboretum.  Fee $180 for members of Arnold Arboretum or New England Wild Flower Society, $215 for nonmembers. Register now! Fee will increase to $225 member, $270 nonmember on September 1.  Log on to www.arboretum.harvard.edu to sign up.

    Tattoo Inspiration by Dharmuti.

  • Tuesday, September 15, 6:30 – 8:30 pm – Design a Native Mixed-Border Garden

    The Trustees of Reservations is sponsoring an illustrated lecture and workshop at Long Hill Horticultural Center in Beverly, Massachusetts on Tuesday, September 15, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.  You’ll learn how to artfully combine shrubs and small trees with a selection of perennial and annual herbaceous plants, and to create a border garden with four seasons of beauty.  Horticulturist and landscape designer Laura Eisner will illustrate basic design principles you can apply to planning and planting a mixed border of any size and shape.  Also covered will be a range of native North American plants that thrive in borders.  Along with plant attributes and drawbacks, Laura will talk about those difficult areas where your plants never seem to thrive and she will discuss which plants will do well there.  Co-sponsored with the New England Wild Flower Society.  Members of the Trusees or NEWFS $25, nonmembers $30.  Registration required.  Contact bzschau@ttor.org.  Log on to www.thetrustees.org for directions.

    http://www.gardenvisit.com/assets/madge/long_hill_massachusetts/600x/long_hill_massachusetts_600x.jpg

  • Sunday, September 20 – Monday, September 21 – Third Annual Garden Party at Basin Harbor Club

    Dreamy. Refreshing. Unparalleled. Basin Harbor Club (www.basinharbor.com) in Vergennes, VT (just south of Burlington, VT) is a majestic, 700-acre resort on Lake Champlain. It has charming cottages, a statuesque Main Lodge, great dining facilities, beautiful gardens, tennis courts, nature trails, heated outdoor pool, an 18-hole golf course, and more. The program kicks off Sunday afternoon, September 20th at 3:00 p.m. with a garden talk by the infamous garden designer, Sydney Eddison. This will be followed by a wine and cheese boat cruise. The garden program continues on Monday, September 21 until 3:00 p.m. Overnight and day-only rates are available.

    This year’s program will be hosted by Sydney Eddison, Anita Dafonte, and Kerry Ann Mendez. Sydney has written six award-winning gardening books and is currently writing her seventh masterpiece to be out in 2010. Based in Newtown, CT, Sydney travels around the country giving her infamous talks. Her gardens have been featured in Martha Stewart Living and on The Victory Garden. She has received the Connecticut Horticultural Society’s Gustav A.L. Melquist Award in 2002; the New England Wild Flower Society Kathryn S. Taylor Award in 2005 and 2006, and The Federated Garden Club of Connecticut’s Bronze Medal. Anita is the associate editor of People, Places & Plants magazine and has worked in national gardening sales for years. She’s an avid gardener and cook and was also the manager of a vintage-car race team!

    Sydney will present two dynamic talks. Her first on Sunday afternoon is titled The Rainbow Contained. This talk explores connections between color in art, nature and the garden and how you can create contrast and harmony to create beautiful compositions. On Monday Sydney will have
    you thinking outside the box with her presentation The Unsung Season, Gardens in
    Winter    . Kerry will lead two interactive garden talks. Putting Your Gardens to Bed for the
    Winter     will cover shortcuts and proven techniques for wintering over gardens including care
    for shrubs, roses, and vines. She’ll also cover tips for getting the best deals at fall garden
    center sales. Her second talk, Give New Life to Tired Gardens will feature a pro’s secrets for beautifying and revitalizing lackluster gardens, including some of her favorite, top performing plants. Anita will delight you with her popular talk Eggplants on Parade. The presentation will feature a slide show from her own gardens and how to make a vegetable garden both productive and beautiful.

    The one night package includes Sunday afternoon’s lecture by Sydney; the wine and cheese boat cruise; one night’s accommodations; breakfast and lunch buffets on Monday; four garden talks on Monday; handouts, colorful garden catalogs, and a garden gift. Package rates are $220 for a single and $335 for a double ($167.50 per person). Taxes and gratuity are additional. The Sunday and Monday day-only rate (includes all of the above except overnight accommodations) is $160 per person. The Monday only day rate is $110 and includes the garden program, handouts, morning coffee, lunch, and a garden gift. To see how incredible these resort rates are, check out the video tour on the Club’s web site. Please call Basin Harbor Club at (800) 622-4000 to reserve overnight packages. Day only reservations go through Perennially Yours. Please visit www.pyours.com/gardenclasses.html or call  (518) 885-3471.